Redskins Ingredients for Improvement: Action and reaction
By Ian Cummings
No. 2 – Don’t be afraid to change the plan with wide receivers
The Redskins barely used their wide receivers on Sunday, because they didn’t have to.
Credit should be given to Jay Gruden; he implemented a game plan that generated success early and often against a Cardinals defense headed by head coach Steve Wilks, who got the job because of his prowess on that side of the ball in Carolina.
The game plan was centered around the Redskins’ rushing attack, a combination of Adrian Peterson’s relentless style and Chris Thompson’s electric speed and vision. The duo gave off an Ingram-Kamara vibe for much of the game; Peterson was the workhorse, while Thompson proved to be simply unguardable, both on the ground and through the air.
The game plan didn’t ask Alex Smith to take shots down the field. Instead, the veteran quarterback converted the chains through the air when he needed to, delivering crisp short-to-intermediate passes. Paul Richardson, who was brought in to spread the field, did anything but, and Josh Doctson didn’t get any chances twenty yards out. But that’s okay. Because the Redskins simply didn’t need to rely on them.
If this strategy works next week, that’s more than fine. But if the Colts are better prepared for the Redskins’ rushing attack (Their defense is young, unproven, and unpredictable), then Alex Smith will be forced to take more shots through the air. The key here is to be flexible and change with the game. Judging by Gruden’s performance against Arizona, being aggressive when he needed to be, the initial outlook on the Colts’ matchup is positive. But the Redskins need to make sure they can execute their contingency plans.